Biological Control for Wandering Trad

This summer, Council’s Bushcare team is introducing a new weapon in the battle against weeds in our bushland.

Bushcare released a leaf-smut fungus as a biological control to help with the control of the environmental weed Wandering Trad.

Wandering Trad (Tradescantia fluminensis) is an herbaceous groundcover native to South America. It is a widespread weed in Georges River and forms dense “carpets” that smother native plants. It thrives in low light conditions and out-competes native species reducing the diversity and health of our native vegetation. Wandering Trad can also cause skin irritations in domestic pets and people.

Bushcare is working in partnership with CSIRO and other participants across NSW to release the Trad smut which is native to Brazil, in suitable locations. The smut-fungus grows best in humid, shaded conditions and will be released in Moore Reserve, Oatley and Ogilvy Street Reserve North, Peakhurst. It is expected that the smut-fungus will take 6 months to establish and should spread out from the initial infection point within 12 months. In the long term, Bushcare hopes that the Trad smut will reduce the amount of chemical and mechanical control of Wandering Trad required in our reserves and aid in the natural regeneration of native plants in Georges River.

Trad smut visible as yellowish spots on Wandering Trad leaves. Photo courtesy of NSW WeedWise

For more information about Bushcare and Council’s weed management, visit georgesriver.nsw.gov.au/Environment